Neither the Galaxy A72 nor the Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) have so far been officially revealed but the industry expects customers to be able to buy either one of these smartphones before the end of the year. And assuming that the leaks and rumors so far are correct then the Galaxy S21 FE might not be as big of a deal as its predecessor was last year, especially if it will follow the Galaxy A72 to the market.
The Galaxy S20 FE took the mobile world by surprise last year. It was Samsung's first FE-branded phone in years and it introduced a high refresh rate display to the non-flagship segment. In addition, the 5G variant that was released alongside the 4G model in select markets is equipped with a Snapdragon chipset, which means it gave customers in Exynos regions an opportunity to own a Snapdragon-powered smartphone.
These characteristics combined with decent all-around specs and a relatively low price have allowed the Galaxy S20 FE to quickly earn a loyal following and become one of Samsung's most important smartphones of 2020.
The Galaxy S21 FE might not have the same market impact
It's not that the Galaxy S21 FE will be an inferior device — it has yet to be officially unveiled so it's yet to be determined — but it is expected to be based on the standard Galaxy S21 model and it should go on sale as a budget-friendlier alternative to the flagship series.
More importantly, the mobile landscape in 2021 is different compared to last year. The Galaxy S20 FE was unique in its ability to offer high-end-grade characteristics for a non-flagship price, but the Galaxy S21 FE won't be alone in doing so this year.
Samsung has already introduced high refresh rate displays to a few of its budget Galaxy A models including the Galaxy A32 4G, and the upcoming Galaxy A72 is also expected to feature a 90Hz panel. Furthermore, the Galaxy A72 is rumored to boast an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a camera system capable of up to 30x zoom. More so, it should benefit from three major Android OS updates, thus closing the gap between it and the Galaxy S21 / Galaxy S21 FE even more.
Essentially, the Galaxy A72 is already shaping up to be a so-called flagship killer and it might occupy a niche on the market that would normally be filled by Samsung's FE-branded smartphones. And since it's expected to go on sale before the Galaxy S21 FE will and for a lower price, it might end up being a better bargain.
The Galaxy S21 FE will have to offer something extra and impress prospective buyers with new tricks if it will want to maintain the momentum left behind by its predecessor and replicate its success. Time will tell if this will be the case but either way, it looks like the Galaxy S21 FE might be getting some serious competition from Samsung's own backyard, and this should benefit fans of the brand.
